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The Border Affair

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THE BORDER AFFAIR
by Charles Badger Clark 1907 (1883-1957)
Badger Clark’s poem has been sung by many, from Ian Tyson to Bob Dylan,
best known as “Spanish is the Loving Tongue.” In Git Along, Little Dogies (1975)
John I. White tells that Prescott, Arizona cowboy singer Bill Simon put it to music in 1925,
a few years after he did the same for Gail I. Gardner’s “The Sierry Petes.”
Badger Clark got his cowboying experience in Arizona. He became the Poet Laureate of South Dakota,
where he was born and lived for most of his life. He wrote many lasting poems,
and others that found their way into song include “The Old Cow Man,” “Riding’,” and “To Her.”
[Intro]
A  D  A  B  E  A  D  A  E  A
[Verse 1]
ASpanish is the Dlovin’ tongue,
ASoft as music, Blight as Espray.
A‘Twas a girl I Dlearnt it from,
ALivin’ down ESonora Away.
DI don’t Elook much Dlike a Alover,
AYet I F#msay her Blove words Eover
AOften when I’m Dall alone -
A“Mi amor, Emi coraAzon.”
[Verse 2]
ANights when she knew where DI would ride
AShe would listen Bfor my Espurs,
AThrow those big doors Dopen wide,
ARaise them laughin’ Eeyes of hAers
DAnd my Eheart would Dnigh stop Abeatin’
AWhen I F#mheard her Btender Egreetin’,
AWhispered soft for Dme alone
A“Mi amor! Emi coraAzon!”
[Verse 3]
AMoonlight in the Dpatio,
AOld Señora Bnoddin’ Enear,
AMe and Juana Dtalkin’ low
ASo her madre Ecouldn’t Ahear -
DHow those Ehours would Dgo a-Aflyin'
AAnd too F#msoon I’d Bhear her Esighin’
AIn her little sDorry tone -
A“Adios, Emi coraAzon!”
[Verse 4]
ABut one time I Dhad to fly
AFor a foolish Bgamblin’ Efight,
AAnd we said a Dswift goodbye
AIn that black, Eunlucky Anight.
DBut traveling Enorth her Dwords kept Ariniging
AWith every hoofF#mbeat I could Bhear her Esinging
APlease don't leave me Dall alone -
A“Mi amor, Emi coraAzon”
[Verse 5]
ANever seen her sDince that night,
AI can’t cross the Bline, you Eknow.
AShe was Mexican and DI was White;
ALike as not it’s Ebetter Aso.
DYet I’ve Ealways Dsort of Amissed her
ASince that F#mvery last Bnight I Ekissed her,
AI broke her heart but Dlost my own -
A“Adios, Emi coraAzon!”

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The Border Affair

by Dave Stamey

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

THE BORDER AFFAIR

by Charles Badger Clark 1907 (1883-1957)

Badger Clark’s poem has been sung by many, from Ian Tyson to Bob Dylan,

best known as “Spanish is the Loving Tongue.” In Git Along, Little Dogies (1975)

John I. White tells that Prescott, Arizona cowboy singer Bill Simon put it to music in 1925,

a few years after he did the same for Gail I. Gardner’s “The Sierry Petes.”

Badger Clark got his cowboying experience in Arizona. He became the Poet Laureate of South Dakota,

where he was born and lived for most of his life. He wrote many lasting poems,

and others that found their way into song include “The Old Cow Man,” “Riding’,” and “To Her.”

[Intro]

A D A B E A D A E A

[Verse 1]

A D

Spanish is the lovin’ tongue,

A B E

Soft as music, light as spray.

A D

‘Twas a girl I learnt it from,

A E A

Livin’ down Sonora way.

D E D A

I don’t look much like a lover,

A F#m B E

Yet I say her love words over

A D

Often when I’m all alone -

A E A

“Mi amor, mi corazon.”

[Verse 2]

A D

Nights when she knew where I would ride

A B E

She would listen for my spurs,

A D

Throw those big doors open wide,

A E A

Raise them laughin’ eyes of hers

D E D A

And my heart would nigh stop beatin’

A F#m B E

When I heard her tender greetin’,

A D

Whispered soft for me alone

A E A

“Mi amor! mi corazon!”

[Verse 3]

A D

Moonlight in the patio,

A B E

Old Señora noddin’ near,

A D

Me and Juana talkin’ low

A E A

So her madre couldn’t hear -

D E D A

How those hours would go a-flyin'

A F#m B E

And too soon I’d hear her sighin’

A D

In her little sorry tone -

A E A

“Adios, mi corazon!”

[Verse 4]

A D

But one time I had to fly

A B E

For a foolish gamblin’ fight,

A D

And we said a swift goodbye

A E A

In that black, unlucky night.

D E D A

But traveling north her words kept riniging

A F#m B E

With every hoofbeat I could hear her singing

A D

Please don't leave me all alone -

A E A

“Mi amor, mi corazon”

[Verse 5]

A D

Never seen her since that night,

A B E

I can’t cross the line, you know.

A D

She was Mexican and I was White;

A E A

Like as not it’s better so.

D E D A

Yet I’ve always sort of missed her

A F#m B E

Since that very last night I kissed her,

A D

I broke her heart but lost my own -

A E A

“Adios, mi corazon!”

About The Border Affair Chords by Dave Stamey

Learn how to play The Border Affair by Dave Stamey with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Border Affair chords”, “The Border Affair guitar chords”, or “Dave Stamey The Border Affair chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Border Affair chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Border Affair lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, D, B, E, F#m.

FAQ — The Border Affair by Dave Stamey

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